Hot Topics:

Roe v. Wade a sad anniversary

Letter to the Editor

Updated:
01/17/2013 04:15:48 PM EST

January 22, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, and the less familiar Doe v. Bolton case, handed down on the same day. Feminist groups rejoiced because now they had a "choice," but many religious groups mourned this day, and the controversy rages on today.

Since the 1973 decision, about 55 million abortions have occurred in the United States -- on average, about 1.2 million lives lost every year. In York County, roughly 700 abortions happen each year -- think of it, in 10 years about 7,000 lives have been lost.

The message we hear is that a woman is empowered with choices regarding her pregnancy, yet many women who have had an abortion say that they didn't feel that abortion was one of their choices; they felt that abortion was their only choice. They were in desperate situations, and felt alone with no support. But about 65 percent of post-abortive women suffer multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a recent report published by the Elliott Institute.

Here in York County, there are resources available to help women make informed decisions about their pregnancy. Human Life Services has been in existence for nearly 28 years, not only helping women with compassionate assistance, but reaching out with caring and confidential support for those women who have suffered with the effects of a past abortion. As neighbors, good citizens, loving church members, let's reach out in non-judgmental and kind-hearted care of women facing a pregnancy decision. Let's restore the value we place on human life